A severe winter storm across the United States forced Bitcoin miners to dramatically scale back operations to relieve pressure on local power grids. The network’s total hashrate temporarily dropped to a seven-month low, removing nearly 40% of global mining capacity. Major mining firms reported sharp declines in daily Bitcoin production as they voluntarily curtailed operations, highlighting the industry’s vulnerability to regional climate events and its emerging role as a flexible grid resource.
about Winter Storm Halts 40% of Bitcoin Mining, Hashrate Plummets
Power Grid
Winter Storm Slows U.S. Bitcoin Mining, Shows Grid Flexibility
A major winter storm sweeping across the central and eastern United States in late January forced Bitcoin miners to dramatically curtail operations, revealing their evolving role as flexible assets for modern power grids. Major U.S.-based mining pools, including Foundry USA and Luxor, saw their computational power, or hashrate, plummet by more than 50% as they responded to grid demands and extreme weather conditions. This event, first reported by industry outlet TheMinerMag, did not disrupt the Bitcoin network’s security but instead demonstrated how cryptocurrency mining is becoming integrated into energy management systems, with experts from GoMining Institutional and Threshold Labs framing the slowdown as a sign of industry maturation rather than failure.
about Winter Storm Slows U.S. Bitcoin Mining, Shows Grid Flexibility$1B Crypto Mining Power Theft Hits Malaysia’s Grid
Malaysia’s national electric utility provider Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has revealed staggering losses exceeding $1.1 billion over the past four years due to systematic electricity theft linked to illegal cryptocurrency mining operations. Parliamentary filings this week exposed that nearly 14,000 premises have been found tapping power illegally since 2020, with operators bypassing or tampering with meters to run Bitcoin mining equipment without detection, creating a severe financial and operational crisis for the country’s energy infrastructure.
about $1B Crypto Mining Power Theft Hits Malaysia's GridGenerac CEO: AI Data Centers to Offset Housing Slump
Generac Holdings Inc. faces a challenging market environment with shares plummeting nearly 30% since mid-August, a downturn CEO Aaron Jagdfeld attributes directly to the struggling housing market. However, Jagdfeld sees a powerful counterbalance emerging in the explosive demand for AI data centers, which require the reliable backup power solutions that form Generac’s core business. In a recent Bloomberg Businessweek Daily interview, the executive outlined how this technological shift could help offset residential market weakness while addressing broader concerns about energy infrastructure resilience.
about Generac CEO: AI Data Centers to Offset Housing SlumpUS Pushes Faster Grid Access for Bitcoin Miners & AI Data Centers
The US Department of Energy is spearheading a regulatory overhaul that could dramatically accelerate power grid connections for Bitcoin mining operations and artificial intelligence data centers. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has formally requested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish expedited procedures allowing these energy-intensive industries to connect directly to high-voltage transmission systems, bypassing the slower local power line connections that have created bottlenecks for major electricity consumers. This initiative, welcomed by industry leaders like CleanSpark CEO S. Matthew Schultz, represents a significant policy shift recognizing the unique power demands of emerging digital industries.
about US Pushes Faster Grid Access for Bitcoin Miners & AI Data CentersBC Bans New Crypto Mining to Protect Hydro Grid
British Columbia is implementing a decisive ban on new cryptocurrency mining connections to safeguard its hydroelectric power grid against unprecedented electricity demands. This controversial move prioritizes power allocation for traditional industries and emerging sectors like artificial intelligence, reflecting growing concerns about energy-intensive crypto operations straining provincial infrastructure while maintaining competitive industrial electricity rates for established economic drivers.
about BC Bans New Crypto Mining to Protect Hydro GridTotalEnergies: AC Surge to Drive Global Power Demand
TotalEnergies’ chief economist warns that rising air conditioning use will significantly boost global electricity consumption in coming decades. While electric vehicles and AI data centers have dominated energy discussions, cooling demand represents an overlooked major driver. This trend will reshape power markets by mid-century.
about TotalEnergies: AC Surge to Drive Global Power DemandNifty Futures Signal Positive Start; Key Stocks in Focus
Indian benchmark indices are poised for a positive opening on Monday as GIFT Nifty futures indicate strong gains, trading 120 points higher at 24,810. This comes after Friday’s significant decline where the Sensex slumped 733 points to 80,426 and the Nifty50 fell 236 points to 24,655. Several major stocks face regulatory scrutiny while others announce significant business developments, creating a mixed landscape for investors.
about Nifty Futures Signal Positive Start; Key Stocks in FocusTrump Eyes AI Growth with Energy, Infrastructure Orders
The Trump administration is weighing executive orders to accelerate AI infrastructure development, including measures to streamline power grid access and permit federal land use for data centers. This comes as AI-driven energy demand surges, with Deloitte projecting a thirtyfold increase in data center power consumption by 2035. The $500 billion Stargate initiative, backed by Oracle and OpenAI, aims to create 100,000 jobs, while tech giants like Amazon and Elon Musk’s xAI expand facilities—though the latter faces legal challenges over environmental concerns. The push reverses Biden-era AI curbs and aligns with Trump’s pledge to secure U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.
about Trump Eyes AI Growth with Energy, Infrastructure Orders